до

To, Until and Next to with До

Level 1Sounds Like do

До marks where something ends or stands: до центъра (to the center), до утре (until tomorrow), до прозореца (next to the window).

How It Works

1. To, as far as a place
До names the end point of a trip or a distance. It is common with стигам/стигна (reach, get to) and with от … до:

  • Как да стигна до центъра? — How do I get to the center?
  • От София до Пловдив има около 150 километра. — It is about 150 kilometres from Sofia to Plovdiv.
  • Ще отида до магазина. — I will pop over to the shop.

With verbs of going, до often suggests a short trip to a place and back. To say you go into a building or country, use в or на: Отивам в магазина.

2. Until a time

  • До утре! — See you tomorrow! (literally "until tomorrow")
  • Работя от девет до пет. — I work from nine to five.
  • Магазинът е отворен до осем. — The shop is open until eight.

Note that до gives an end point, not a length of time. "I waited for two hours" is Чаках два часа, with no preposition.

3. Next to, beside

  • Седни до мен. — Sit next to me.
  • Аптеката е до банката. — The pharmacy is next to the bank.

After до, a personal pronoun takes its object form: до мен, до теб, до него, до нея, до нас, до вас, до тях. See Full Object Pronouns.

Not for giving to a person
English "to" in "give it to Maria" is not до. A person who receives something is marked with на: Давам книгата на Мария. (A letter can still be addressed до someone: писмо до баба, "a letter to Grandma".)

Examples (6)

  1. Как да стигна до центъра?

    How do I get to the center?

    Word by Word: How to I-reach to center-the?

    До marks the destination at the end of the route.

  2. Работя от девет до пет.

    I work from nine to five.

    Word by Word: I-work from nine to five.

    От … до gives the start and the end of a time span.

  3. Чакай ме до прозореца.

    Wait for me by the window.

    Word by Word: Wait me next-to window-the.

    Here до means "next to".

  4. До утре!

    See you tomorrow!

    Word by Word: Until tomorrow!

    A common way to say goodbye when you will meet the next day.

  5. Седни до мен.

    Sit next to me.

    Word by Word: Sit next-to me.

    After до the pronoun is мен, not аз.

  6. Магазинът е отворен до осем.

    The shop is open until eight.

    Word by Word: Shop-the is open until eight.

Common Mistakes

  • Using до for the person who receives something.

    Давам книгата до Мария.
    Давам книгата на Мария.

    English "to" is not always до. The receiver of something is marked with на; до marks a place, a time limit or a position next to something.

  • Using the subject pronoun after до.

    Седни до аз.
    Седни до мен.

    Prepositions take the object form of the pronoun: до мен, до теб, до него, до нея.

  • Using до for a length of time (a meaning mismatch).

    Чаках го до два часа. (meaning: I waited for him for two hours)
    Чаках го два часа.

    Чаках го до два часа means "I waited for him until two o'clock". For a length of time, use the time phrase with no preposition.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

доLevel 1To, Until and Next to with До

Learn This First

До is learned together with от for ranges and destinations.

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